Rhys Weston

He spent six years with Cardiff, making 214 appearances in league and cup, helping them to two promotions as the club rose from the fourth to the second tier of English football.

Although born in England, he chose to represent Wales at international level, making his debut for the senior squad in a friendly against Portugal in June 2000.

[3] Weston played for Arsenal as a youth player, joining the club at the age of eleven after being spotted representing Surrey at county level,[3][4] before he made his senior debut in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 30 November 1999, Arsène Wenger bringing him on at half-time to replace Oleh Luzhnyi.

[6] His first start came on 14 May 2000 at St James' Park, he was taken off for fellow youngster Brian McGovern after 67 minutes – Newcastle United finished 4–2 winners.

[9] After being told by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger that he was unlikely to make the grade at Premier League level,[10] Weston signed for Cardiff City for a fee of £300,000 in November 2000.

[15] Having received criticism for his early performances at full-back for the club, Cork gave Weston a vote of confidence after being handed the number two shirt for the following season.

"[10] However, a poor performance during a 3–0 defeat to Bury in November 2001 led to Weston being withdrawn from the starting line-up by Cork.

Weston played 43 games during the season, also picking up eight yellow cards along the way, and captained the side for the first time in his career during a Football League Trophy match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Weston picked up ten yellow cards that season, but also scored his first senior goal on 26 October with a last-minute effort of a 4–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers.

[26] At the end of the season Weston was one of five players who took "substantial reductions in their wages" (20%[6]) in order to pave the way for the arrival of Darren Purse.

[30] Weston was released at the end of the month after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent and joined Norwegian side Viking in the Tippeligaen on a short-term deal.

[31] His only match with the Stavanger-based club lasted just twelve minutes, as Weston dislocated his shoulder and was taken off during a league fixture against Brann.

[39] Weston played 31 games that season and scored the third goal of his career on Boxing Day, a 64th-minute winner against Stockport County at the Bescot Stadium.

[48] He led the "Dark Blues" to a second-place finish, as Ross County ran away with the title, before leaving Dens Park in May.

[52] The club had been relegated to the second tier or Malaysian football the previous season and Weston was one of several players brought in by new manager David McCreery.

[53] The side were forced to play matches during on weekday afternoons due to floodlight problems and train at 9am each morning to avoid the extreme humidity later in the day.

[58] Weston came on as a second-half substitute in AFC Wimbledon's third pre–season game of the 2013–14 season, a 1–1 home draw against Championship side Charlton Athletic on 18 July.

[59] Three days later, Weston made his fourth friendly appearance for "The Dons" and played the full match as they beat Isthmian League Division One South side Walton Casuals 1–0 away at Waterside Stadium.

[60] Weston played in the "Dons" final pre–season game of the 2013–14 season, a 3–0 defeat to Italian Lega Pro Seconda Divisione/A side S.S.D.

[65] In August 2019, Weston came out of retirement to join Combined Counties League Premier Division club Cobham.

[69][70] In May 2000, he was called up to the Welsh senior squad for the first time prior to a match against Brazil,[68] remaining on the bench as Wales suffered a 3–0 defeat.

[77] Following the defeat, he was one of four players, including Cardiff teammates Lee Kendall and Kevin Aherne-Evans, who returned to the squad hotel late after being allowed to go out for a drink.

[81] His first senior start came on 12 February 2003, a 2–2 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, he played 60 minutes before being substituted for Matthew Jones.

Weston in 2008